Kowloon Walled City

Kowloon Walled City: Gambling on the Richter Scale [12 inch]Gambling on the Richter Scale [12 inch] (2009)
The Perpetual Motion Machine

Reviewer Rating: 3

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 6th 2009Kowloon Walled City come from the school of post-Neurosis lurching, but place a little more emphasis on the sludge, stoner and doom tendencies. Consequently, Gambling on the Richter Scale is an appropriately titled and often difficult but enriching, heavy listen. Opener "Annandale" gurgles forwar.

Kowloon Walled City come from the school of post-Neurosis lurching, but place a little more emphasis on the sludge, stoner and doom tendencies. Consequently, Gambling on the Richter Scale is an appropriately titled and often difficult but enriching, heavy listen.

Opener "Annandale" gurgles forward atop a filthy, sprawling foundation; soon enough, vocalist/guitarist Scott Evans adds his vocal yelp, which is a scratchy, craggy one that actually bears some flashes of actual comprehension. "Diabetic Feet" has an ending that's crushing, but gives just enough space for breathing room, while "Clockwork" and "Sleep Debt" are slower, thumping, burning jams. It's safe to say the first half is a little more interesting than the second.

There's sort of an overly rough and treacherous pace that the rest of the album begins to traverse shortly after, however, and consequently those last 18 minutes or so do drag, both musically and attentively. But Gambling on the Richter Scale manages to remain a listenable and suffocating effort through and through.

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Diabetic Feet
Clockwork

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Gambling on the Richter Scale

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

wentz_equals_death (November 12, 2009)

i drove around in my shitty car listening to this after downloading, seemed appropriate (in a good way)

Spalmer (November 7, 2009)

the actual kowloon walled city is probably more insane and badass than this band

Jesse (November 7, 2009)

Well, Neurosis would definitely be way more in the ambient and industrial categories with roots in crust and thrash - not very stoner or doom at all.

That being said, KWC definitely hits on those notes way more. Good album.

LosPeptobismol (November 7, 2009)

You gotta lose your mind in Kowloon Walled City

xtphr (November 6, 2009)

love this band love this record

sexualsunshine (November 6, 2009)

"place a little more emphasis on the sludge, stoner and doom tendencies."

That doesnt make any sense... sludge, stoner and doom is what neurosis is save a little post rock which these guys also have. It's just Hydra Head / Southern Lord worship, which isn't a bad thing.